Orphan Girl Becomes Queen

There must have been a lot of excitement in Persia those days. Every girl from India to Ethiopia, in all the 127 provinces of the empire. Everyone hoped she would be the one to be chosen. And you may be sure that every mother was certain her daughter was the most worthy for this high honor. By the King's command beauty contest---or the like---were held in every provinces, and the loveliest girls given a fee tip to Shushan for the King's inspection. As more and more girls arrived at the palace Mordecai had an idea. Why, his Esther was far more beautiful than any of these young ladies from Syria, Egypt, Arabia, and other parts of the country. They didn't stand a chance besides his precious little star. They weren't in the same class. Esther was far and away the. best-looking girl in the world. "I'm sure you could win," he told her one day, after seeing some of the latest arrivals. "You're so much lovelier than any of the others. Why not try and see what happens? It could be that God wants you to be queen." Finall Esther agreed, and Mordecai took her to " the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women." As Mordecai bade her good-by he added one word of caution. "Don't tell anyone you are a Jewess," he said. "That might spoil everything." "I won't," said Esther, and she was gone. When Hegai saw Esther he was so struck with her beauty that he felt sure she would be chosen to be queen. So he gave her the best rooms in the house of the women and seven maidens to wait on her. This was encouraging, but it didn't mean that Esther would be queen. After all, the king had to see all the other girls before he could make up his mind; and there might be someone else prettier than she. As the poor Mordecai, he waited impatiently for news about his precious daughter. He felt certain that the king would choose her. How could he do otherwise? But suppose he didn't, what would happen to her? Would she be allowed to come home again? "And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her." Can't you see him pacing to and fro, looking up at the barred windows, hoping to get a glimpse of her face or a wave of her hand? "O Esther, Esther, where are you?" I can hear him calling. "What has happened to you, my little star?" Twelve months passed. Then one day Esther was called to meet the king. How excited she must have been! How hard she must have tried to look her very best! How she must have prayed for God's help and guidance on this greatest day of her life! Mordecai was waiting outside, you can be sure, and when Esther walked from the women's house to the throne room, dressed in the finest robes the Persian court could supply, and attended by all her lovely maidens, I can imagine he almost burst with pride. Such a dream she was, such a beautiful, glorious dream! Onlookers in the corridors gasped in wonder as she passed by. Indeed she " found favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her." At last she came into the "house royal" and the king was overcome by her breath-taking beauty. It was case of love at first sight. "And the King loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen."